Join us for our olive harvest and stay in our stunning house surrounded by nature near Serta, Portugal

Disponibilité

  2025 

 Séjour min. souhaité : Au moins deux semaines

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Infos

  • Description

    Description

    UPDATE-
    I am looking for a long term permaculture gardener (or couple). I can offer accommodation, food, use of a car and an allowance/profit share,

    In the shorter term, I also need a couple of strong workaways to help get this farm looking good.

    Please get in touch if you are interested.

    GENERAL
    Hi, I'm Paul. I have big old beautiful (but basic and unfinished) farmhouse set in 6 ha of wooded valley in the middle of rural Portugal. It is 40 minutes walk from the lovely country town of Serta.
    Over the past 9 years I've welcomed hundreds of Workaways to my home, to experience a different way of life, in a safe and friendly communal environment, whilst helping me gently push the project forward.

    We follow the Workaway model of four hours a day, six days a week for basic food and lodging.
    The work will be physical.
    During the summer we tend to start around 7am, since by 11am its roasting, but the rest of the year 9am or 10am works fine. We'd be grateful if you could get yourself out of bed and fix yourself breakfast ready to start for then.

    I dislike rules & rotas and instead prefer to activate the inner community spirit we all hold within us. There are plenty of tasks to do and we expect everyone to pull their weight in a giving and friendly manner, with a sense of community.
    When everyone pulls together it is the most beautiful way to live.

    From experience, I find its best to work on a one week trial basis for both parties. If either you are not happy with us, or we are not happy with you, then we part company after a week (or when convenient), with no hard feelings.

    We all take turns to cook/wash up, and we expect you to take regular turns too. Please have some simple cheap veggie recipes prepared. We nearly always eat vegetarian in the house, although I do eat meat when out. If you need a special or expensive diet please let us know when you apply.

    In the house we communicate in English and so being able to speak good conversational English is ESSENTIAL.

    If you have a drug or alcohol problem or dependency, or a serious mental health issue, please let us know before you arrive :-)
    Also, if you hold extreme religious views or consider yourself to be superior to other races, please don't wait until you arrive to tell me!

    Any gardening and building skills are very much appreciated but if you only have energy, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, then that is also grand.
    Please do let us know when you apply however, if you have never used basic tools such as an electric drill.

    There is plenty of peace and quite with miles of forest, hills and river to explore.

    The house is large there is a big communal kitchen and living room, I have a separate apartment and we have a couple of private rooms plus a large dorm for guests/workaways.
    In the summer the house stays nice and cool, despite temps outside regularly reaching over 40 deg (we have a pool!).
    In the winter, there are many days when its 20 deg in the sun, but very cold in the shade. Nights can get down to -5 deg but the rooms have heating (from the woodburner), so as long as the fire is lit it is pretty cosy. Still, you will need warm clothes and waterproofs, since it can also rain a lot in the winter.

    The house has two hot showers, flushing toilets and a washing machine for your clothes. There is also a nice space to do yoga.

    Beautiful Natural Swimming Pool - no chlorine, the water is cleaned by plants!

    There is a derelict barn on the site, (we call it the Chicken Hotel), which has 39 double rooms, and, when developed, could host yoga/massage/music/creative retreats. This is some way off so yoga teachers, hold your horses!

    The possibility of trips out. We often go to a big lake for a swim or have dinner at a restaurant.
    There are also plenty of festivals, concerts and a cinema to attend.

    We are happy for you to smoke on the terrace, which has a fabulous view across the valley.

    For rainy days we have musical instruments, games, books, table tennis and a projector for movies. We like to play board games when we have time. Carcasonne and Catan are both favourites.
    We have several guitars, banjos, a fiddle, electric piano, clarinet, harmonicas, melodica, trombone, cajon, full drum kit and even a double bass for you to make music on. I am happy to share what I know.

    We regularly get involved with the local Portuguese musicians to put on gigs and are often visited by my UK/USA musician friends. I am in coupe of local bands playing blues, rock and roll, bluegrass and oldtime.
    We host a few 100 guest concerts at the house a year.

    We now have Starlink WiFi ( working well). We do accept digital nomads.

    We have two dogs (smart Tasca, loving Baloo) and a cat (Menina), all whom are exceptionally sweet. Many of our friends, who regularly pop over, also have dogs, so this is probably not the place for you if you don't like dogs...

    THE OWNER AND THE VISION
    Hi, my name is Paul, I am from London.
    I guess I am a mix of entrepreneur/capitalist (but with ethics and compassion) and a hippy dreamer (that actually gets stuff done).

    In 2004 I set up a community folk music pub in London, which I still own and run (despite getting nearly destroyed by Covid). I also have a tourist accommodation business in Portugal.

    In June 2015 I bought this beautiful, abandoned terraced olive farm in Central Portugal. My intention is to create a little paradise through permaculture, music, community and positive deeds, although I have hardly started yet.

    My dream of living communally in the countryside began 33 years ago, after a long (hungover) night analysing how I should live. I have had this dream in my mind when making most of my life decisions.
    It is only recently however that I have worked out exactly what form this community will take and I am looking forward to you helping me realise its potential.

    Cheers
    Paul

    We are not a commercial business.

  • Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

    Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

    Pratique d’une langue
    Aide avec des éco-projets
    Jardinage
    Bricolage et construction
    S’occuper des animaux
    Aide dans une ferme
    Cuisine/repas pour la famille
    Aide à la maison
    Entretien général
    Home sitting
  • Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

    Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

    Objectifs de l’ONU
    Pas de pauvreté
    Faim «zéro»
    Bonne santé et bien-être
    Éducation de qualité
    Égalité entre les sexes
    Eau propre et assainissement
    Énergie propre et d'un coût abordable
    Travail décent et croissance économique
    Industrie, innovation et infrastructure
    Inégalités réduites
    Villes et communautés durables
    Consommation et production responsables
    Mesures relatives à la lutte contre les changements climatiques
    Vie aquatique
    Vie terrestre
    Paix, justice et institutions efficaces
    Partenariats pour la réalisation des objectifs
  • Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

    Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

    We can show you the building skills needed for the jobs you do and power tool use (if we trust you!). I even teach some sensible Workawayers to use the tractor.
    If you are interested in playing music then we have lots of instruments. I can teach you basic guitar and banjo. We can also introduced you to the local musicians and even get you gigs.
    We are gradually learning Portuguese, Julia is teaching us.
    Everyone goes to the market at least once which is fun and a bit scary. Those old Portuguese ladies drive a hard bargain!
    We regularly take workaways to local festas and concerts.
    On Sundays we sometimes take our little motorboat out to explore the huge local lakes.

  • Aide

    Aide

    I will need loads of help to get the place in order.

    I am looking help restoring the buildings, gardening, weeding, planting and farming (perma culture)

  • Langues parlées

    Anglais: Courant

  • Hébergement

    Hébergement

    Its a big house with bedrooms and dorm rooms.
    There is lots space to camp and/or park a camper van.

  • Autres infos...

    Autres infos...

    The nearest town Sertã is 5 minutes away by car or a 40 min walk. It has 3 big supermarkets, cinema, bus station and many restaurants. They also have regular little events which can be fun.
    There is a beautiful river 10 mins walk through the wilderness from the farm and a lovely secluded lake down the valley through the forest.
    There is also a massive lake with a beach and cafe 25 mins drive away, where you can swim/boat/waterski etc.
    The nearest bar is only 400m away at the end of the drive, it's got a pool table and table football.
    The farm is very quiet so besides watching the birds you have to make your own entertainment. We have instruments, games and a selection of films and books if the peaceful nature gets too much.
    Sertã is well connected to Coimbra, Tomar, Castelo Branco, Porto and Lisbon by buses (Rede Express or Transdev), I will collect you from Serta bus station.

  • Informations complémentaires

    Informations complémentaires

    • Accès Internet

    • Accès Internet limité

      Accès Internet limité

    • Nous avons des animaux

    • Nous sommes fumeurs

    • Familles bienvenues

  • Espace pour garer des vans

    Espace pour garer des vans

    Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

  • Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

    Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

    Plus de 2

N° de référence hôte : 126966191581

Sécurité du site

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Photos

L'image représente deux personnes debout dans une zone herbeuse luxuriante, entourée d'arbres et de vignes, avec une structure en bois au premier plan.
L'image représente un grand bâtiment de plusieurs étages situé dans une zone boisée, avec une structure plus petite au premier plan. Le bâtiment se distingue par son toit et son balcon de couleur orange.
L'image représente un cadre extérieur serein, avec une pelouse luxuriante, des arbres et un mur de briques, avec des chaises et des tables blanches éparpillées un peu partout.
L'image représente un bâtiment blanc serein avec un jardin luxuriant, comprenant un arbre, des vignes et des arbustes, sur une toile de fond lumineuse et ensoleillée.

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Exactitude du profil:
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Échange culturel:
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